Downham and Fakenham boost title chances with wins while Heacham continue good form

Downham Town and Fakenham Town enhanced their title chances with big wins this afternoon, while Heacham continued their recent good form with another three points.Downham and Fakenham recorded 1-0 victories over Mulbarton Wanderers and Thetford Town, respectively to set up what is becoming a four-horse race for the Premier Division title.Second-placed Downham Town damaged the league aspirations of Mulbarton – who started the afternoon sitting fourth in the league standings – with a slender win at the Memorial Field.The only goal came midway through the second half from a corner as Harly Murkin headed home his second goal in as many games.Fourth-placed Fakenham Town were winners by the same scoreline at Munford Road, where Joe Keeley smashed home the only goal of a tight affair in the second half.The Ghosts have now won their last four games on the bounce and are unbeaten in their last five.Brantham Athletic remain two points clear of Downham Town at the summit, having played the same number of games, while Fakenham are six points adrift of the leaders – but do have a game in hand.Third-placed Ely City also remain very much in the equation – two points in front of the Ghosts – but Fakenham have two games in hand on their Cambridgeshire neighbours.Over at Station Road, Heacham, who have kept clean sheets in three of their last four outings, made it three successive wins with a thumping 4-0 victory over Hadleigh United. Nathan Davies gave the Magpies an early 2-0 advantage before Colby Wood added a third goal to make it 3-0 at half-time. Wood added his second goal after the restart to wrap-up a comprehensive display from Paul Hunt’s side, who sit 13th in the table with 42 points.In the First Division North, relegation Swaffham Town suffered an 11th straight defeat after a 2-1 home defeat by Haverhill Borough.The rock-bottom Pedlars have conceded 52 goals in those 11 games and are 14 points adrift of the next side above them in the table. Next weekend sees Downham Town entertain Thetford Town at the Memorial Field, while Fakenham Town host Kirkley & Pakefield at the Daly Group Stadium.Downham Town: McAnally, Miller, Reed, Watts-Sturrock, Bird, Castellan, Royle, White, Murkin, McQuaid, Kirk. Subs: Smith, Delgado, Visocanskis, Sinakumar. Fakenham Town: Pearson, Rasberry, Coslett, Sturman, Wright, Mayhew, Keeley, Poore, Watts, Whiteley, Middleton. Subs: Malenguka, Henman, Bonner, McIntyre, Piggott.Heacham: Watson, Akers, Hutton, Goult, Robinson, Harwood, Dear, Hunt, Prentice, Wood, Davies. Subs: Suckling, Willmott, Forde, Williams, Pightling.